The best way is to fly into NYC and leave from Boston. Take AMTRAK between cities since New Haven is on the route. If you want to drive, do not rent until you leave NYC. While in NYC The subway will take you directly to Columbia. There are hotels on the Upper West Side that others can recommned. You can spend the extra days exploring Boston and Cambridge

When you are at Harvard, be sure to see the glass flower collection at the Narural History Museum, one of the most extraordinary works of craftsmanship I have ever seen.

Amtrak is the easiest way from NYC to Ne Haven and then on to Boston.. Do not take Acela - which is more expensive - use the regular Amtrak. And if you buy tickets in advance you can often get discounted fares. Do remember that you need official picture ID (license, passport of similar) to pick up tickets,

For NYC have a look at the Newton hotel on the upper west side, which is modestly priced, reliable and a short walk or bus ride to Columbia. Check the web site now for advance discount rates.

You might find it less expensive to fly round trip from either NY or Boston. If that is the case, do the amtrack one way with a stop in New Haven as suggested, then take Bolt bus (or one of the other discount carriers - not a Chinatown bus) back to the starting point. This will give your son an idea about using public transportation. Use the subway in the cities.

Wow, congratulations! I agree that public transit is the way to go, especially in NYC and Boston/Cambridge. I'm not sure what your local transit options are in New Haven. For travel between cities, another option is bus service, offered by companies including Greyhound, Bolt, and Megabus for a fraction of the cost of the train and with far more scheduled trips.

It is wonderful that you will have time to get the feel of each location, not just a quick campus tour. My daughter was disappointed to find that there "is no there, there" in New Haven, compared to the other cities' social and cultural opportunities. You'll find this out when looking for hotel; in New Haven, the Omni is about it.

As with any college tour, talk to lots of students, eat where they eat, figure out what house style suits him best, etc.

Congrats!! Agree best idea if you can is fly into NYC, see Columbia. Head to New Haven by amtrak.com train from Penn station. Metro North trains (from Grand Central) go there too and are cheaper but take a bit longer. Amtrak.com from New Haven to Boston and then fly home from Boston. Lots of good luck.

First of all, congratulations to you and your son! Acceptance to those schools is quite an accomplishment in itself. Good luck!

I agree that you should look into the cost of a RT ticket to both NY and Boston, and compare with the cost of an open ended ticket.

Once you decide where you're flying into and out of, and since you seem to have enough time, bus travel is your best bet for a tight budget. Look into Bolt Bus and Megabus, as well as Greyhound, which has reduced fares for online purchases, which are comparable to Bolt and Megabus.

Another option between NY and New Haven is Metro North, not the regular Amtrak service, but the commuter RR, which is a lot cheaper.

<<<You'll find this out when looking for hotel; in New Haven, the Omni is about it.>>>

The Omni is the only large chain hotel in downtown New Haven, so yes, if you will not have a car, it is one of only several choices. The nicest hotel is actually The Study. But if you do have a car in New Haven, there are all the typical chain hotels within a short distance, including a Courtyard in New Haven itself (but not downtown). The Omni and The Study are both pretty pricey.

Is your son going to the "admitted students" weekends, where he'll stay in a dorm and attend classes? If so, what are you going to be doing while he's participating in admitted students activities?

If you arrive in New Haven by Amtrak, you can walk to campus/downtown (a mile) or take a taxi.

Re the area around the Amtrak station in New Haven -- walking between there and downtown should be okay during the day, depending on the route you take. Note that the area around the train station isn't good, though, so I'd personally recommend walking along Union Avenue going north (which becomes State Street after the underpass), then turning left onto Chapel Street to reach downtown and Yale.

And I would not walk between downtown and the train station at night. Take the short cab ride, or the weekday-only loop bus that goes between the green and station at that time.

Agreed.

First let me say Thank You for all of your responses. This is the first time used Fodors and I absolutely love it.
There were some good points made by all. Yes, my son is trying to go to the admitted students weekend for both Yale and Harvard, but Columbia's is the same weekend as Harvard so he is going to call Columbia today to see if he can make arrangements to stay on campus at a different time. As for what I am going to do while he is at campus - I don't know. Ideally he would be able to travel on his own from Yale to Harvard and I would just go for a few days cutting the hotel bill substantially. He has only traveled on his own in the past to visit family and for his Vanderbilt visit - but in those cases he was picked up at the airport and did not have to find his way to where he was going. I am not sure I am comfortable with him traveling alone.
In a perfect world he would fly to New York take a taxi to Columbia where he would stay with a student on campus for a day or two. Take a train to New Haven where he would again take a taxi to Yale and attend the admitted students activities. Finally take the train to Cambridge, a taxi to school and attend the admitted students weekend. And then fly back home from Boston. If only life were perfect. Even if the stars aligned perfectly and he could travel from one school to the next with arrangements for his stay, would it be safe for him to travel alone?

It's completely safe for him to travel alone. These trains are typically packed with students and other young people. No trip is more than 5 hours anyway. He should just try to pack lightly since he'll be dealing with his own luggage on and off the trains.

He could definitely save a lot of money by cutting down on the taxis and using more public transit. Again, all very very safe.

If he's going to go to college in a big city, he really does need to learn to do this kind of stuff on his own.

<<<Even if the stars aligned perfectly and he could travel from one school to the next with arrangements for his stay, would it be safe for him to travel alone?>>>

If he's starting school in September, unless you plan to take him there and pick him up for every vacation, he's going to be traveling on his own in 5 months anyway. Let him go! (P.S. My son went from California to two of the eastern colleges one summer during high school for soccer camps -- it was a PITA to arrange his travel, but he did it (alone) and survived, and was carrying a ton more luggage than your son will need to have with him).

If you do go, please do not give him a brown bag with his lunch in front of the other kids.

Well very shortly he's going to be LIVING alone - with no supervision and only limited help if he seeks it out. And will have to travel everywhere by himself and find new friends and live in a city (small or large).

Frankly - to someone from a city - you seem to be treating him as if he were about 10 years old - not a young adult. I grew up in the suburbs of NYC and we routinely went into the city by bus and subway to go to movies or museums or whatever from the time we were 12 years old (during the day - not at night until we were 16 or so).

I think you need to take this opportunity to throw him in at the deep end if he is to develop some confidence and coping skills. (Yes, a big city is different - and the sooner he recognizes this and learns the differences the esier his life will be.)

A cousin of mine went to Columbia (she grew up in a suburb of Cleveland but had visitied us numerous times) and there were still things that were a surprise to her. It was the first time I had considered my (17 year old - 2 years older) cousin naive - since there were things she just didn't know. She came to stay with us for a week before starting school and I took her to the city several times to help her get her bearings overall in Manhattan - which put her one up on some of her fellow freshmen.

As for safe - mostly it is - but not all, esp in New Haven. He needs to learn the difference now - not later. Don;t do all those taxis. Walk wherever possible. Take the bus and the subway. Live like real people.

There is no need to take a taxi once he arrives in Boston. If he's taking the train, he'll arrive at South Station. Right at the station, he can catch the RED LINE (Our subway system, called the "t") directly from South Station all the way to Harvard Square (6 stops). It should be a 20-min ride or less, and costs $2. Taking a taxi might be longer (due to traffic) and infintely more expensive.
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/

<<<As for safe - mostly it is - but not all, esp in New Haven.>>>

Unfortunately, while parts of New Haven around campus and to the east, and many other specific neighborhoods, are very nice, many parts are not and are, in fact, unsafe. Everyone knows, for example, if you live off campus, you don't live "north of Dwight".

I'd hesitate to send him on this trip alone ("throw him in at the deep end") if he is unaccustomed to using public transit. This is not treating him like a young kid. When he arrives at school in the fall there will be peers, orientation, group activities etc. that will help him get acquainted with local transportation options. Sending him to do this first outing alone, on top of trying to absorb the ambience of the schools and their locales, might be just too much. Even for a kid who was able to get into all those schools.

Congratulations on the fabulous acceptances!

And rather than give the OP parenting advice, which she didn't seem to be asking for ("Live like real people" was exceptionally rude, IMHO), here is a 2 for 1 Amtrak discount for high school juniors and seniors who are traveling with an adult looking at colleges:

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?ff=No&c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am/Layout&p=1237405732514&cid=1246042642393

You need to buy at least 3 days in advance and also have a student ID.

I'm actually of the mindset that as the parent you should go with your child, not because he isn't capable of traveling on his own, but this is a monumental decision and I'm sure you can provide insight and valuable opinions - especially if you are paying for the education.

16 years as a college counselor.....but just my humble opinion. Have a great time.

As someone who started riding the NYC subway at 13, hitch hiking at 14 and riding planes at 16, I think Mom ought to go. Choosing a college is big decision and Mom will pick up things that 18 year will not and vice versa.

I do not know the kid in question except to say that he is smart enough to get into some of the best schools. And we all know there are kids with common sense, world experience, and social skills and kids without. Does he have enough confidence to ask questions or the right questions?

You can push out of the plane without a parachute after you return from your trip.

First, congrats to your son! What an opportunity!

Don't most campuses have activities for the parents as well? I would take advantage of them. It may be the most you see of the school your son will be attending. Free time? Nose around the school bookstore, the campus art gallery.

If there's even more unstructured time in Boston or New York, I'd say, you should go have fun. Do a google search of this website for both cities and you'll find tons to do.

Congratulation to your son on his acceptances to these three great schools. I hope you both enjoy the trip east to visit them.

I know you didn't ask for an opinion on whether it was a good idea for you to go on the trip, too, but since so many people have offered gratuitous advice, I would just say I think it is fine for you to go! Our kids grew up in rural VT and both looked at and ultimately attended schools in cities. We went to visit most of the schools with them, and they did just fine when they had to travel to/from school and negotiate urban subways and buses on their own.

I don't know what the admitted student days schedules are like for parents at these schools but I have been on campus tours at all of them and you would probably enjoy taking one with or without your son. All three are interesting historic campuses.

In addition to the glass flowers at Harvard, there are excellent collections at the Fogg art museum and the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. And the Peabody museum at Yale is also well worth visiting.

Harvard square is a fun area to explore. And Boston is a short ride on the T (subway) if you want to do some sightseeing there.

When you are traveling between New Haven and NYC, there are many commuter trains on the Metro North New Haven Line in addition to Amtrak trains. These go to Grand Central terminal rather than Penn Station in NYC

I wasn't suggesting that a parent is unnecessary - I think a more mature perspective is always good. But I think the comments about using public transit and letting the kid spread his wings hold. They shouldn't be joined at the hip every moment - and since the average college student doesn't cab everywhere - I think the real people comment holds.

I do agree it is important to feel comfortable using public transit at any of these schools. I went to school in the Boston area for four years w/o ever using a taxi and took a taxi once in the three years I studied in NYC. I almost never take taxis in cities now, either.

However, real students do sometimes take taxis, at least in some cities. My kids and their friends sometimes found it to be a cheaper option when a group of them were going out. It is good to know what to watch out for, how much to tip, etc. when taking a taxi, too.

Thanks for all of the insight. I realize that some of the people commenting think that I am being over protective of my son, but we live in a bedroom community that is known for it's wine and hot air balloons and just last year was voted the 2nd safest place to live in the US. He has absolutely no experience with public transportation - my thought was that he shouldn't try to navigate NYC for the first time on his own. Thanks to some of your posts I am leaning toward letting my son travel alone and take the train/subway whenever possible.

What is the best way for him to get from the airport in New York to Columbia University? (I have yet to purch the tx, is it better to fly into a particular airport?)I also want to confirm the most efficient public transportation from Columbia to New Haven is a train? Can anyone provide the approximate cost to take the train?

He will be staying with a student at Yale for a day or two after the admitted students days. Is there anything he should definitely do or see while in New Haven? His friend at Yale suggested he take Megabus from New Haven to Cambridge. Does anyone know how close that gets him to Harvard and how he can from the Megabus stop to Harvard?

Apparently I failed to refresh the page before my last post and missed the 6 prior posts encouraging my to go with my son. I would love to go if it is not cost prohibitive and provided that I can find a family of one of my younger son's friends to take him in for 10 days.

Today my son will continue researching the trip. Tonight I hope to actually make the reservations.

Whether he travels alone or with me, the advise provided on Fodors will be extremely useful. Thanks to all that have replied.

I didn't realize that there was a Megabus from New Haven to Boston. that is almost certainly cheaper than the train. The cost varies depending on how far ahead you book and the time of day. My kids have both used Megabus and Bolt buses quite often.
The bus would go to South Station in Boston which is also where the Amtrak train would go. I agree with yk's post above that the best way to get to harvard Square from there would be to take the T (subway). It is easy and doesn't even require a transfer

this is the link to megabus
http://us.megabus.com/?news=google09sale&gclid=CMLVyN-4oK8CFUGo4Aod0gl_bg

He would fill in the date and departure and destination and get ticket options

The train from NYC to New Haven costs about $40 (check on the Amtrak web site for the actual price). Metro North is cheaper but takes almost twice as long. It's a similar price to get from New Haven to Boston. Yes, you save on Megabus, but the train is more convenient and comfortable in my opinion. I'd do that anyway, though Megabus does have free Wi-Fi when it's working and pretty comfortable seats. All the students travel that way, but you have to meet the bus on the street rather than in the station itself and get off on the street, so if he doesn't know his way around, it's not going to be as convenient as coming into South Station by train.

Newark (EWR) airport is probably the most convenient airport for Columbia. He would take the Airtrain/NJ Transit into Penn Station and then the subway up to Columbia from there. He could also fly into JFK and take the Airtrain/Long Island Railroad (also into Penn Station). Transfer times are about the same.

LGA is, ironically, probably the least convenient airport for Columbia U. if he goes by public transit, but if he's taking a taxi, then it's the most convenient simply because he'd have door-to-door service for a fairly reasonable price.

I guess it's all been covered, but there's the M60 bus between LaGuardia and Columbia (that I don't think I've taken):

http://www.columbia.edu/content/morningside-heights.html

A taxi from LaGuardia is cheaper than a taxi from all the other airports. Personally I prefer LaGuardia as it's the easiest airport to get to by taxi.

But I guess you'll need to check and see how routing affects airfare.

Whether he takes megabus or Amtrak into Boston; both will drop him off at SOUTH STATION. Just follow the directions I wrote in my earlier post about taking the RED LINE from South Station to Harvard Sq.

Thank all of you for your insight and suggestions. I found a friend of a friend who lives in NYC who suggested my son fly in a day early to see some sights and he will show him how to get around on public transport. I am now comfortable with him traveling alone. His brother and I will be able to go with him to visit Stanford the following weekend.

Especially with friends to help your son get oriented in NYc and New Haven he should do fine traveling alone. I hope he has some time to explore Cambridge/Boston a little when he visits Harvard. It's an easier/less intimidating area to navigate than NYC